Written Answers

Monday 18 September 2000

Scottish Executive

Caledonian MacBrayne

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sought to persuade the European Commission that all Caledonian MacBrayne routes should be put out to tender as one bundle and whether it intends to take any further steps in this respect.

Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-9567 on 13 September.

Economy

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to assist the manufacturing and agricultural sectors of the economy in the light of the recent move of the Scottish economy into recession.

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to boost the economy following the recent move of the Scottish economy into recession.

Henry McLeish: Scotland’s growth performance over recent years has been strong and, although output in Scotland fell marginally in the first quarter of 2000, GDP rose by 2.3% over the four quarters to March 2000 compared to the four previous quarters. Prospects remain good and independent forecasters predict continued growth over the next two years.

  The Scottish Executive has just published for the first time a Framework for Economic Development in Scotland. The Framework is firmly focused on the underlying economic conditions necessary to stimulate economic growth and how we can meet the challenges of a highly competitive global environment.

  The Scottish Executive also published a manufacturing strategy earlier this year, and is currently engaged with the agricultural industry and other interested parties in devising a strategy to assist the future viability and sustainability of Scottish farming.

Education

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8844 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 14 August 2000, when the feasibility study into integrated broadband communications for Scottish schools will be published and whether it will recommend adoption of a broadband width system.

Peter Peacock: I expect to receive the report of the feasibility study into broadband communications for Scottish schools by the end of September. The study is looking at a range of institutional, financial and technical matters involved in providing broadband communications links to Scottish schools.

Elderly People

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to make the provision of day care for older people a statutory service.

Iain Gray: Under section 12 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, local authorities are required to promote social welfare by making available advice, guidance and assistance on such a scale as may be appropriate for their area and to provide or secure provision of such facilities. The Scottish Executive has no plans to make the provision of day care services for older people a specific statutory duty.

Environment

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with Her Majesty’s Government on the development of a national (UK) intermediate radioactive waste depository.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is responsible for policy on radioactive waste management in Scotland. It is in regular contact with UK Government Departments and would be involved in any decision to develop a national (UK) radioactive waste policy.

Environment

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any powers to require utilities and local authorities to co-operate in the undergrounding of overhead cable and wires for environmental reasons.

Henry McLeish: All new overhead lines require the consent of Scottish Ministers under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989. In dealing with such applications, Ministers must have regard to environmental considerations, but the Scottish Executive has no powers to require the undergrounding of electricity cables. This is a matter for the public electricity suppliers.

Environment

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made or intends to make any funds available to local authorities or others to encourage the undergrounding of existing overhead cables and wires for environmental reasons.

Henry McLeish: We have no plans to do so.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8452 by Iain Gray on 17 July 2000, what the most up-to-date figure for the amount of delayed discharges is following the census on 20 June 2000.

Iain Gray: Comprehensive national and local information will now be published in November. This is later than the intended publication date given the absence from one health board of complete national data within the first quarter census returns.

Housing

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to section 25(1)(c) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, what circumstances are covered by "other special reason".

Jackie Baillie: The 1987 Act does not define "other special reasons", and it is not possible to list all potential special reasons for vulnerability. The Code of Guidance on Homelessness, updated in October 1998 provides advice to local authorities, and lists examples of those who may be considered vulnerable for special reasons. A copy is available in SPICe.

Meningitis C

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the procurator fiscal service has conducted or is considering conducting any inquiries into sudden deaths which have occurred shortly after administration of meningitis C vaccine.

Colin Boyd QC: Enquiry has been made with Procurators Fiscal and to date only one such death has been reported. The death in question was reported to the Procurator Fiscal at Aberdeen. Investigation by the Procurator Fiscal revealed that the death was not related to the administration of the meningitis C vaccine.

National Cultural Strategy

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will itemise the costs, including the staff costs, for the preparation, printing, photography, design, publication and distribution of Creating our Future, Minding our Past.

Rhona Brankin: The costs are as follows:

  


Design (inc. photography)


£16,000




Printing


£50,000




Distribution


£2,000




  Staff costs within the Executive cannot be attributed to specific tasks.

National Cultural Strategy

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will itemise the cost of the focus group, including travel, fees and subsistence expenses, and the public consultation exercise which led to the publication of its National Cultural Strategy document Creating our Future, Minding our Past

Rhona Brankin: The costs of the focus group and public consultation were:

  


Travel and Subsistence costs for 
focus group members


£ 250




Printing of consultation document


£22,000




Public meetings


£ 3,300




Publicity for meetings


£ 6,000




Consultants fee for Report on Consultation


£20,700

National Cultural Strategy

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those bodies and individuals who gave evidence or made suggestions during the consultation process for the National Cultural Strategy.

Rhona Brankin: As the information relating to this PQ is lengthy, I will write to the member with the full details. A copy of the list has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).

National Cultural Strategy

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will itemise the costs of the launch event for the National Cultural Strategy, including the hire of musicians and performers.

Rhona Brankin: The costs for the launch of the National Cultural Strategy were as follows:

  Metro Ecosse (all design, lighting and set up costs) £7,800

  There were no costs incurred for either the actual hire of the hall or of the musicians, however travel costs of £84 were incurred by the musicians.

Planning

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Reporter has now submitted his findings on the Ayr United/Heathfield inquiry and when a decision on the relevant applications will be reached.

Sarah Boyack: The public local inquiry report was submitted to the Scottish Executive on 2 August. Planning applications can be complex matters and Ministers have a responsibility to give them due consideration. I will write to the member with my decision as soon as it is available.

Tourism

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the independent management consultant’s report commissioned by the Scottish Tourist Board from PriceWaterhouseCoopers will be made public.

Henry McLeish: No. This is an internal review commissioned by and for the board of the STB.